YaoLingLu

Chapter 3:Screaming

The guards returning from their expedition gradually brought back firewood, while the Taoists in the temple respectfully offered incense to the local Earth God.

The guards lit a bonfire and gathered around it to keep warm.

A Taoist approached the captain of the guards to inquire about the situation, to which the captain replied, "All the guards who went out have returned.

The area around the temple seems safe, we can stay here for the night." The Taoist nodded in approval.

One of the guards looked around puzzled and asked, "Where is Wang? Why hasn't he returned yet?"

At this moment, both the Taoist and the captain of the guards felt a sense of foreboding, sensing that things might not be as simple as they seemed.

Outside the temple, under the dark night and howling wind, a guard was lying in the bushes in a strange and eerie posture, looking unnaturally still.

Bathed in the moonlight, his face was pale, his body rigid, as if bound by some evil force.

After a stick of incense had burned down, there was still no sign of Wang's return.

The Taoist suggested, "If that's the case, we should go out and look for him."

The captain of the guards said, "No need, you and the young lady stay here, I'll take some men to search." So, the captain began to assign tasks, "Half of you stay to protect the young lady, the rest come with me."

In the cell, a serious boy observed everything around him.

Suddenly, the Taoist asked, "What are you looking at?"

The boy quickly closed his eyes, pretending to be asleep.

The Taoist said, "Stop pretending, I have questions for you."

The boy asked, "What do you want to know?"

The Taoist squatted down and asked the boy, "Who imprisoned you here, and why are you all locked up here?"

After a moment of silence, the boy replied, "There have been ghostly occurrences in the fields, many people have died. The village witch said it was because spirits from outside came, who liked to eat children. We were chosen as sacrifices by drawing lots among the adults in the village."

The young lady also approached and asked, "If there are spirits causing trouble locally, why didn't you ask the authorities to handle it?"

The boy helplessly answered, "We did, but the exorcists sent by the authorities all died. After a few attempts, the authorities refused to send anyone else."

The Taoist was about to continue questioning when a piercing scream cut through the night sky, grabbing everyone's attention.

The Taoist shouted, "Something's wrong, trouble is brewing!" He led the remaining guards towards the source of the scream, tension and unease enveloping the temple inside and out.